Archaeologists investigating a site known as Windmill Hill in northern Poland have uncovered massive defensive ditches, stone cannonballs and remains believed to belong to a 15th-century windmill. Researchers think the site may have been fortified during the Thirteen Years’ War—and could represent the first field fortifications from the conflict ever identified.
Archaeologists from the University of Warsaw made the discoveries during excavations at Windmill Hill in Puck, a town on Poland’s Baltic coast. The site lies about 300 metres west of the medieval town and has long intrigued researchers because historical sources suggest windmills once stood in the area.
This year’s excavations covered more than 5,000 square metres and revealed over 300 archaeological features spanning thousands of years.
“The verification of these hypotheses exceeded expectations. During the excavation of the area, over 300 structures of various sizes were discovered, confirming the long-term use of this area,” Dr. Michał Starski of the University of Warsaw told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
The earliest discoveries are associated with the Lusatian culture and probably date from the first half of the first millennium BC. Archaeologists also uncovered around a dozen pits dating to the early Middle Ages. But it was evidence from the later medieval period that produced some of the excavation’s most intriguing results.
A medieval windmill surrounded by defences
Aerial view of archaeological excavations on Windmill Hill in Puck. More than 300 archaeological features were uncovered across the site. Photo: Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
Before beginning their excavations, researchers examined historical evidence for Windmill Hill. A map from 1634 identifies the area as Muhlenberg, or Mill Hill, while records also indicate that two windmills existed in the vicinity during the 15th century.
“The most intriguing discoveries concerned the use of the hill during the historical period. In its central part, two circular structures were uncovered, with diameters of approximately 30 and 50 meters,” Starski explained.
The two structures proved to be large circular ditches. They were approximately 1.5 metres deep and between 1.5 and 2.5 metres wide, and had been filled largely with sand and clay.
Inside the circles, archaeologists discovered the cellar of a building along with large fragments of grooved granite millstones. The technique used to make the millstones dates from the late Middle Ages onwards.
More than a dozen stone cannonballs were also recovered from the site.
Stone cannonballs discovered during excavations on Windmill Hill in Puck. Photo: Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
Taken together with the documentary evidence, the finds have led researchers to propose that the centre of the circular enclosure once contained one of the 15th-century windmills recorded in historical sources. Starski believes it may have been a Teutonic windmill, although little of the structure itself has survived beyond the millstone fragments.
A small building apparently stood beside the windmill, from which a wooden cellar has survived.
Fortifications from the Thirteen Years’ War?
Plan of the excavated area on Windmill Hill, showing the large circular ditches and numerous archaeological features discovered at the site. Image: Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
The two large ditches may have formed part of a defensive system constructed around the windmill. Archaeologists believe there may also have been a small rampart.
The question is why a windmill needed such substantial defences. One possibility is that they were constructed during the Thirteen Years’ War (1454–1466), a major conflict between the Teutonic Order and the Prussian Confederation, which was supported by the Kingdom of Poland.
Puck became directly involved in the fighting. In 1460, the Teutonic Knights captured the town following a short siege. Four years later, Teutonic forces at Puck were themselves besieged by troops from Gdańsk.
“The favorable terrain conditions required the defenders to secure the hill, including the windmill, which most likely did not survive the two-time siege of Puck. If these hypotheses are confirmed, then the first field fortifications from the Thirteen Years’ War have most likely been discovered,” Starski said.
Remains of a wooden cellar uncovered inside the fortified area on Windmill Hill in Puck. Photo: Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
Researchers therefore suggest that the existing windmill may have been surrounded by defensive works either when the fortifications were first constructed or later in response to the threat of attack.
The interpretation remains a hypothesis, however, and further archaeological work will be needed to establish more precisely when the ditches were constructed and how they relate to the windmill.
From ancient settlement to Lutheran cemetery
Archaeologists excavating graves at Windmill Hill, where around 150 burials from a later Lutheran cemetery were discovered. Photo: Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
Windmill Hill continued to be used long after the medieval fighting had ended. During the 16th century, a substantial part of the area was transferred to the local Protestant community and became a Lutheran cemetery. Archaeologists uncovered approximately 150 graves, although the human remains were generally poorly preserved.
Among the later finds were four coins dating from the second half of the 15th and the 16th centuries. Researchers believe the coins may be evidence for the practice sometimes known as Charon’s obol, in which a coin was placed with the deceased.
A one-piece clay pipe dating from the 17th century was also discovered and may have been a personal possession buried with one of the deceased.
A 17th-century clay pipe discovered during excavations on Windmill Hill in Puck. Photo: Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
The scale of the excavation has allowed archaeologists to reconstruct a remarkably long sequence of activity on Windmill Hill, from prehistoric settlement through the Middle Ages and into the early modern period. Further analysis should help determine whether its most unusual feature really was a medieval windmill transformed into a fortified position during one of the Baltic region’s major late medieval wars.
“Further research will allow us to refine our current findings, including more precisely dating the human remains from the graves, and gathering information about the biological condition of the local population in modern times,” Starski said.
Top Image: Archaeological excavations on Windmill Hill in Puck, where researchers have uncovered evidence of possible medieval fortifications surrounding a 15th-century windmill site. Photo: Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
Archaeologists investigating a site known as Windmill Hill in northern Poland have uncovered massive defensive ditches, stone cannonballs and remains believed to belong to a 15th-century windmill. Researchers think the site may have been fortified during the Thirteen Years’ War—and could represent the first field fortifications from the conflict ever identified.
Archaeologists from the University of Warsaw made the discoveries during excavations at Windmill Hill in Puck, a town on Poland’s Baltic coast. The site lies about 300 metres west of the medieval town and has long intrigued researchers because historical sources suggest windmills once stood in the area.
This year’s excavations covered more than 5,000 square metres and revealed over 300 archaeological features spanning thousands of years.
“The verification of these hypotheses exceeded expectations. During the excavation of the area, over 300 structures of various sizes were discovered, confirming the long-term use of this area,” Dr. Michał Starski of the University of Warsaw told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
The earliest discoveries are associated with the Lusatian culture and probably date from the first half of the first millennium BC. Archaeologists also uncovered around a dozen pits dating to the early Middle Ages. But it was evidence from the later medieval period that produced some of the excavation’s most intriguing results.
A medieval windmill surrounded by defences
Before beginning their excavations, researchers examined historical evidence for Windmill Hill. A map from 1634 identifies the area as Muhlenberg, or Mill Hill, while records also indicate that two windmills existed in the vicinity during the 15th century.
“The most intriguing discoveries concerned the use of the hill during the historical period. In its central part, two circular structures were uncovered, with diameters of approximately 30 and 50 meters,” Starski explained.
The two structures proved to be large circular ditches. They were approximately 1.5 metres deep and between 1.5 and 2.5 metres wide, and had been filled largely with sand and clay.
Inside the circles, archaeologists discovered the cellar of a building along with large fragments of grooved granite millstones. The technique used to make the millstones dates from the late Middle Ages onwards.
More than a dozen stone cannonballs were also recovered from the site.
Taken together with the documentary evidence, the finds have led researchers to propose that the centre of the circular enclosure once contained one of the 15th-century windmills recorded in historical sources. Starski believes it may have been a Teutonic windmill, although little of the structure itself has survived beyond the millstone fragments.
A small building apparently stood beside the windmill, from which a wooden cellar has survived.
Fortifications from the Thirteen Years’ War?
The two large ditches may have formed part of a defensive system constructed around the windmill. Archaeologists believe there may also have been a small rampart.
The question is why a windmill needed such substantial defences. One possibility is that they were constructed during the Thirteen Years’ War (1454–1466), a major conflict between the Teutonic Order and the Prussian Confederation, which was supported by the Kingdom of Poland.
Puck became directly involved in the fighting. In 1460, the Teutonic Knights captured the town following a short siege. Four years later, Teutonic forces at Puck were themselves besieged by troops from Gdańsk.
“The favorable terrain conditions required the defenders to secure the hill, including the windmill, which most likely did not survive the two-time siege of Puck. If these hypotheses are confirmed, then the first field fortifications from the Thirteen Years’ War have most likely been discovered,” Starski said.
Researchers therefore suggest that the existing windmill may have been surrounded by defensive works either when the fortifications were first constructed or later in response to the threat of attack.
The interpretation remains a hypothesis, however, and further archaeological work will be needed to establish more precisely when the ditches were constructed and how they relate to the windmill.
From ancient settlement to Lutheran cemetery
Windmill Hill continued to be used long after the medieval fighting had ended. During the 16th century, a substantial part of the area was transferred to the local Protestant community and became a Lutheran cemetery. Archaeologists uncovered approximately 150 graves, although the human remains were generally poorly preserved.
Among the later finds were four coins dating from the second half of the 15th and the 16th centuries. Researchers believe the coins may be evidence for the practice sometimes known as Charon’s obol, in which a coin was placed with the deceased.
A one-piece clay pipe dating from the 17th century was also discovered and may have been a personal possession buried with one of the deceased.
The scale of the excavation has allowed archaeologists to reconstruct a remarkably long sequence of activity on Windmill Hill, from prehistoric settlement through the Middle Ages and into the early modern period. Further analysis should help determine whether its most unusual feature really was a medieval windmill transformed into a fortified position during one of the Baltic region’s major late medieval wars.
“Further research will allow us to refine our current findings, including more precisely dating the human remains from the graves, and gathering information about the biological condition of the local population in modern times,” Starski said.
Top Image: Archaeological excavations on Windmill Hill in Puck, where researchers have uncovered evidence of possible medieval fortifications surrounding a 15th-century windmill site. Photo: Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw
Subscribe to Medievalverse
Related Posts